United Airlines is set to launch its most ambitious international route expansion ever, adding 10 new destinations next year. The Chicago-based carrier announced Tuesday that it will begin nonstop service to a mix of European and Asian cities, marking a significant bet on global travel demand even as jet fuel prices soar.
The new routes include Okinawa, Japan; Toulouse and Marseille in France; Luxembourg City; Ibiza and Valencia in Spain; Terceira in Portugal; Ljubljana in Slovenia; and the Italian islands of Sardinia (Olbia) and Sicily (Catania). Except for the two Italian cities, no other U.S. airline currently serves these destinations directly, giving United a first-mover advantage.
Flights will roll out between late March and early June, starting with the San Francisco-to-Okinawa service on March 27 and concluding with the Newark-to-Terceira route on June 9. The Toulouse flight will depart from Washington Dulles International Airport, while all other new European routes will operate out of Newark Liberty International Airport, which United calls its premier Atlantic gateway.
At a launch event in Newark on Tuesday, United also showcased its newest aircraft, the Airbus A321XLR, which it has dubbed the “Born to Explore.” The plane will begin flying domestic routes in September before shifting to international service in December, and it will be deployed on five of the new routes. The aircraft’s extended range and fuel efficiency are central to United’s strategy of opening thinner, longer-haul markets.
“We offer the most flights across the Atlantic and Pacific, and Newark is the best Atlantic gateway in the country – so far this year, it’s the most on-time airport in the New York City area,” said United CEO Scott Kirby in a statement. “We’re going to keep building on that momentum as we welcome the new A321XLR to our fleet and continue to elevate the travel experience for every customer who chooses United.”
Beyond the new destinations, United will add extra frequencies on several existing international routes and resume nonstop service between San Francisco and Tel Aviv, Israel. The airline says it has added 49 destinations since 2021, underscoring its aggressive post-pandemic growth strategy.
The expansion comes at a delicate time for the aviation industry, as global jet fuel prices have climbed sharply. According to the International Air Transport Association, the average price of jet fuel last week was about $163 a barrel, an 82% increase from a year ago. The spike is largely attributed to the ongoing Iran war and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping lane.
Kirby, speaking on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Tuesday, said he has been “pleasantly surprised” by how much fuel has managed to move out of the Gulf region despite the disruptions. He predicted that prices would gradually ease as alternative supply sources come online, but acknowledged uncertainty: “I think we’re also in a gradual world where we’re going to continue to get more oil from other sources in other ways out of the gulf. And so, who knows for sure? But my base case would be that it’ll sort of gradually decline – it stays higher than it was – but that it will gradually decline into 2027.”
The announcement also comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, including a scaled-back U.S. military exercise with South Korea and new sanctions on Iran. United’s move suggests that airlines are betting on long-term travel demand despite near-term cost pressures.
Industry analysts note that United’s strategy of targeting secondary cities could pay off if fuel prices stabilize, as it avoids head-to-head competition on popular routes. The carrier’s focus on Newark as a hub also aligns with its push to capture premium transatlantic traffic.
Passengers will have to wait until next spring to book the new flights, but United says it will release schedules and fares in the coming weeks. The airline’s expansion is a clear signal that it expects international travel to remain robust, even as economic and geopolitical headwinds persist.
